water boy

American  

noun

1. a person who carries a canteen or bucket of drinking water to those too occupied to fetch it, as to soldiers, laborers, or football players.

2. a person who sees that livestock is supplied with water, as by filling water troughs.

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Etymology

Origin of water boy

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

He saw it in Bowden even before high school, as early as the fifth grade, when all of the kid’s energy was zeroed in on being the best possible water boy he could be.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025

If it was anyone else on Sunday behaving and performing like he did Erik ten Hag would have sent them to be the water boy for the under-18s!

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2024

He drove the golf carts, acted as a water boy, and looked like he had a blast.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Jonathan Ogden of St. Albans may be the best football player the region ever produced, but he played offensive tackle, a position about as likely to win the Heisman as water boy.

From Washington Post • Dec. 9, 2022

He said the water boy had just brought news to the field hands, and it had been passed from one to the other until it reached him.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry